TORRINGTON >> A controversial Healthy Food Certification program which some PTO members say could compromise their ability to raise money, but brings an additional revenue to the district, is now board policy in Torrington.

"It bothers me that in this society [we] teach moderation by depriving the child of the choice, but we need money and we get $41,000," said board of education member Christopher Rovero, about the program.

The certification prohibits foods not approved by the Connecticut State Department of Education from being served in vending machines and school stores, and provides districts with an additional 10 cent reimbursement on free and reduced lunches sold.

For example, only foods approved by the HFC guidelines can be sold in campus vending machines. Fundraisers cannot sell sweets, for example at a bake sale, directly to students. Parents must pick up the items.

In order to sell items such as typical hotdogs and hamburgers at football games, boards of education must pass HFC exemptions.

Twenty separate and technical lists detail allowable foods. Brand-specific lists cover everything from water and yogurt to soups and animal crackers, and include caloric, sugar, fat and sodium intake of acceptable foods. Each list is between eight and 39 pages long.

Torrington High School PTO president Kathy Peterson said the new regulations will hinder PTOs ability to raise money.

"The downtown parents without cars will no longer buy from the PTO because they can't come to pick it up," said Peterson. She continued that, "I am for healthy alternatives but we're not a wealthy community and our PTOs rely on our fundraisers."

HFC also requires districts to designate a contact person to "field questions, organize trainings and contact the [Connecticut State Department of Education] for assistance when necessary." Administrators track compliance with the regulations.

"For the last three weeks we've heard about how busy the principals are and how they have no free time. So, we are we putting more work on the principals after hearing for three weeks how they're overworked," said Peterson.

"My perspective is, from a management perspective, you tell them what needs to be done and they get it done," said board member Paul Cavagnero, about administrators.

"Are we going to be tracking the amount of time that is spent on this?" said board member Fiona Cappabianca. Before voting against the measure, she said administrators would be tracking HFC instead of "educating kids."

A heated conversation between board of education members left Fit Together Committee members applauding and while other audience members quietly questioned the new food certification.

The measure passed in a vote of 6 to 3, board members John Kissko, Fiona Cappabianca and Andrew Nargi voted against the measure.

Regarding another portion of the district's wellness programming, Cappabianca suggested that online physical education classes are "expanded" to more students. As explained by assistant superintendent Sue Domanico, students fill out a "physical activity log," describing what kinds of exercise they performed in order to receive credit.

As the board reviews wellness and food policies, the Connecticut Commission on Children says the risks from obesity and inactivity are real.

One in four Connecticut high school students are obese or overweight, 26 percent total, and 12.3 and 13.3 percent respectively, according to data from 2007.

A study developed by researchers at the RTI Institute in North Carolina and quoted by the Commission on Children, estimates that in one year, "obesity-related health problems in Connecticut added $856 million in adult medical expenditures, including $665 million in Medicaid and Medicare costs."

A Torrington pediatrician and Fit Together Committee member, Michael Curi, attending the meeting said, the "single biggest issue I feel is facing the children in this community, the obesity epidemic." He said it is, "by far the biggest issue affecting our kids health, their prospects."